Links

(Tier) Sub Navigation

Middle School

The Walworth Barbour American International School features a Middle School that serves students in the sixth through eighth grades and is characterized by its high standards of academic excellence, while meeting the unique social and emotional needs of the adolescent learner.

The WBAIS learning environment fosters a sense of caring and sets the stage for achieving high personal learning standards. It is important that every child feels a sense of belonging and part of a community. Through the Buddy Program, new students gain confidence in their new surroundings, even before the first day of school. In addition, social events foster new friendships that carry over the course of the year. In the fall, the Week Without Walls program solidifies this sense of belonging.

The core academic program consists of middle and high school level math courses, lab-based sciences, integrated humanities, and the choice of modern languages (French, Spanish, and Hebrew). This core program is supported by strong performing and visual arts and physical education programs. Students also participate in exploratory course work and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, ranging from inter-school sports to dramatic productions.

The Middle School’s 1:1 Laptop Program reflects the school’s commitment to providing 21st Century learning opportunities. Each classroom is equipped with a SmartBoard, Apple TV, and LCD Projector. Teachers and students regularly engage in technology to research particular events, design visuals to reveal new understandings, produce videos to capture a big idea, and communicate understanding to peers and teachers in real-time.

Students regularly participate in activities and service programs that promote stewardship and responsibility within the local and global community.

The school’s mission is to provide students with an academically challenging educational experience that cultivates a respect for diversity, develops a passion for lifelong learning, encourages the assumption of leadership roles, promotes a sense of responsibility to actively contribute to society, and to resolve conflict through dialogue and understanding. WBAIS believes in working hard to meet such goals and invites you to join the journey.

The Middle School Program

Core Middle School classes include Humanities, Math and Science. In addition to the core classes, students in Middle School take Art, Music, Physical Education and Modern Language. Our Modern Language Department offers Hebrew, French, and Spanish. Opportunities to engage in other areas of interest are offered within our Exploratory Program. Additionally, Students with special learning needs, including English Language Learners (ELL) are offered support through our Resource Center (RC). Lastly, Computer Technology Education is integrated into core subjects through our One-to-One (1:1) Laptop Program.

The Humanities curriculum in the Middle School uses an interdisciplinary approach toward learning the social sciences and language arts. The program develops an understanding of concepts and development of skills that draw upon such disciplines as history, geography, literature and English language.

This course honors the developmental level of the child, encouraging students to take academic risks, to seek connections among disciplines, and to challenge concrete and abstract thinking skills. Higher-level analysis of concepts is required and research skills are emphasized. A student’s need to reflect on and produce writing that is well organized, follows a clear structure, and expresses ideas meaningfully becomes increasingly important throughout their years in the middle school. Students explore the connection between reading and writing by reading a variety of genres for a variety of purposes. Additionally, students are exposed to rich grammar and language, supporting critical language skills that shape their ability to meet the demands of the middle school curriculum. Teaching of the writing process is strongly emphasized. Focus on study skills, along with listening and speaking skills are also an important part of the curriculum.

The mathematics program is based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Our math program focuses on the concepts and skills that provide the students with connected pieces of facts and ideas that the student can use to cope with the demands that will follow them as they move up the ladder in mathematics. Real-life problem solving is also a curricular focus and, in keeping with our school-wide technology efforts, technology is used to support student learning by extending student thinking and challenging student application of new skills.

The science program offers a laboratory-based problem solving approach to the Biological, Physical and Earth Sciences. Regardless of grade, students examine the world around them through thoughtful scientific inquiry and engaging hands-on approaches. The sixth grade course emphasis is on Earth Science including Planetary Science. The seventh grade course of study emphasizes Biology, including human Biology. In the eighth grade students study the Physical Sciences, Chemistry and Physics. Emphasis at all levels is placed on student experimentation and project work using the scientific method. These courses stress the effects of science on daily life, current scientific development, and the need for intelligent decision-making in a technological society, as well as integrating mathematics and science.

WBAIS has a strong modern language department that offers Hebrew, French or Spanish. All middle school students, except for students enrolled in our ELL/RC program, are required to study a language throughout the year. The modern language curriculum emphasizes core literacy skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and stresses instructional practices that encourage students to use multiple modes of discourse, frequently and authentically.

Physical education is an integral part of a total educational program that seeks to provide each individual with the opportunity to achieve his or her own potential and to acquire physical education skills. The physical education program is designed to provide experiences that help develop a life-long attitude toward physical activities important in a well-balanced life of an individual.

The health program in grades 6-8 provides knowledge and skills that promote healthy habits and reinforce the basic values of wellness. Concepts studied are integrated through the science curriculum and P.E. curriculum. A family life course is required for all eighth grade students. Subject areas addressed include: nutrition, family life, human growth and development, drug and substance abuse prevention and disease prevention.

Each year students in the Middle School will take a course that deals with the basic elements of image-making, line, shape, form, color, composition and surface texture. They will explore techniques in both 2-D and 3-D media as well as being exposed to varied aspects of their art heritage.

Middle School students study singing, movement, and advanced concepts of music history, theory, composition and improvisation. All middle school students are required to take at least two trimesters of band or chorus.

Middle School students participate in an exploratory program for much of the year. These exploratories cover a wide variety of topics and engage students in an activity-based program that is developmentally appropriate. Some required classes, such as health and family life education, are included in these course offerings.